On 10 October – the World Day against the Death Penalty – activists and campaigners around the world will make a concerted stand against this most final and irrevocable of punishments. This year, the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, of which AI is a member, will organize a day of local actions along the theme of “a failure of justice”.

Application of the death penalty itself is a failure of justice, but it is usually accompanied and compounded by a host of systemic breakdowns including unfair trials which can lead to the execution of the innocent, mentally ill or child offenders.

This year, the campaign focuses on child executions in Iran, discriminatory application of the death penalty on foreign nationals in Saudi Arabia, executions of the innocent in China and of the mentally ill in USA, and unfair trials in Nigeria. Events include public debates, concerts, film screenings and the collection of hundreds of signatures on appeals calling for an end to the death penalty.

The World Day will be followed on 30 November by Cities for Life, organized by the Rome-based Community of Sant’Egidio, Italy. Public buildings and spaces worldwide will be lit up – in effect acting as beacons affirming the value of life and signalling opposition to the death penalty. An annual event, it also commemorates the abolition of the death penalty in Tuscany on 30 November 1786 – the first such abolition in a European state.

To take action go to World Coalition Against the Death Penalty and see this year’s action:

http://www.worldcoalition.org/modules/accueil/

Stop Child Executions Campaign supporters and volunteers are encouraged to increase campaign activities during the month of October. Meanwhile SCE campaign will be posting additional articles and posters about death penalty in this site.